Envelope making machine



Jan. 3, 1939. A Nov c 2,142,143

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. Abraham Nor/ck.

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1939. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7; 1934 Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1939. A. NOVICK 2,1 3

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. Abra/mm Nov/ck.

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1939. A. NOVICK 2,142,143

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. Abra/7am Nov/ck.

ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1939. A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR. Abm/mm Nov/ck.

BY I M ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 3,1930] UNITED STATES ATENT oracle:

Application December 1, 1934. SerialNo. 156.464

21 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to an envelope making machine and more particularly to the feeding mechanism for envelope blanks and the like of the type illustrated in my Patent 1,808,706. It concerns directly with a provision of a device for feeding blanks from the stack of blanks so as to form a continuous band in which only the sealing flaps are exposed. Although applicable as a top feeder, the invention is particularly adapted for feeding the blanks from the bottom of the stack.

Many of the details of the feeding device are not shownherein and reference may be had for such details to the above mentioned patent.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned which will feed the blanks rapidly and accurately and which will be readily adjustable for different sizes of envelopes and envelope blanks.

Another object of the invention isto facilitate the feeding of window envelope blanks. It will be understood, however, that many features of the present invention are applicable to other types of envelopes and envelope blanks.

Further andmore specific objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following specification.

The accompanying drawings'illustrate one embodiment of my invention. It will be understood however, that various changes in the specific mechanism described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and certain parts of the structure disclosed may be employed without others.

Fig. 1 is a vertical view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention on line ll of Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a detail view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the relation between the stack, stops, and the cooperating face of a separator disk taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of .the invention.

Fig. 5 is another plan view taken in the plane of the lowermost blank, this view eliminating some of the structural details for the purpose of clarity. r

Fig. 6 is a vertical view of .a part of the device taken along the line 66 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a partial and enlarged view in the plane of Fig. 1 for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the operation of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a similar enlarged detailed view of the parts cooperating to transfer the gummed blanks to a conveyor.

Briefly the operation of the illustrative device is as follows: The forward end of the bottom blank is moved away from the stack by the operation of a sucker member common in the art, this affording an opportunity for a pair of separator disks upon which the weight of the pile partly (Cl. 27l29) rests, to start the separation of the bottom blank.

While this is taking place the sucker moves downward with the end of the blank for a'short distance. when the suction is cut off and a pair of presser members come into play and bring the end of the blank downward against a traveling conveyor. When this has occurred, traction between the blank and the conveyors is secured by means of a pair of rollers which move into place and press the blank thereupon, and since the separating disks have now accomplished their work, the withdrawal of the blank lengthwiseof the stack is begun.

In the device constituting an embodiment of v the present invention the stack of envelope blanks A rests'upon a pair of cooperating separating disks l and. H. Part of the weight of the stack is borne by a depending toe member or finger l2. Other similar toe members as shown in my prior patent may be employed if desired. The separating disks l0 and II are provided with means for adjusting the relative position of the disks. For this purpose and also for the purpose of rotating these disks, means for transmitting power to such disks are provided, the means being so designed and constructed that the disks may be moved to and from each other and retained in such adjusted position without interfering with the power transmitting means. The rotating drive shafts l3 pass through bearings H carried by arms l of the main frame l6. A pair of cooperating links I! and [8 are interposed between the drive shaft l3 and the stud l9, which is aflixed to the disk hub by means of a set screw 2| or the like. The links I! and I8 are pivoted to each other by means of the stud 22. The drive shaft l3 carries a sprocket wheel 23 at the upper end thereof, the same being preferably spaced from the link I I by the sleeve 24. The stud 22 carries a cooperating sprocket wheel 25 which is driven from the sprocket wheel 23 by the sprocket chain 26. The stud 22 carries another sprocket wheel 21 which is connected to the sprocket 28 on stud H! by the sprocket chain 29. The drive shaft 13 therefore transmits its power to the separator disk by means of these sprocket chains. These are shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings. The frame l6 alsov carries the angular bracket plate 30 which carries on its lower face the guide plate 3| having an'enlarged opening 33 to receive the stud l9 and its sleeve 32, the latter forming part of the link l8. The guide plate.3l is preferably made in two parts which are joined together by the screws 34 as shown to facilitate repair and replacement of parts. The frame member l6 also carries the transversely disposed suitably channelled guide devices the stud II of either or both'separator disks may be moved laterally within the opening 53 in the guide plate II and when brought to the desired position these are firmly bolted into position. The lateral distance between the separator disks i and II may thereby be adjusted within the limits provided by the opening 33 in the guide plate 3| During this adjustment operation the angle between the links H and I is varied and the operation of the sprocket wheels and sprocket chains for transmitting power from the drive shaft i3 to the stud IQ of the separator disks is not aifcted.

The separator disks in the present invention are provided with annular ribs 38 and grooves 35. By means of this form of disk the friction between the disk and the stack of envelopes is substantially reduced, thereby considerably facilitating the operation of the machine. In addition this alternate rib and groove structure of the operating face of the disk also serves to permit some of the vertical rod-like stops such as the stops 40 to project into such grooves and thereby positively preventing any movement of any of the blanks rearwardly during the operation of the machine.

The present device is also provided with adjustable stops both in front and in back of the stack of blanks. For this purpose each frame member I5 is provided with a rearwardly projecting channelled guide member 4| which carries the slidable arm 42 which in turn may be held in adjusted position by the wing nut 43. The arm 42 in its turn serves as a guide for the sleeve 44 which slides thereon and may also be held in an adjusted position thereon by means of the wing nut 45. The sleeve 44 is provided with an integral arm 46 which carries integrally therewith the rod-like stop 41 adapted to engage the rear face of the stack of blanks. The stop 41 preferably extends downwardly to a point somewhat above the operating face of the disk. The arm 46 also carries a cross member 48 which in turn supports at each end the slidable carriers 49 for the stops 40.

It will now be understood that by means of the device described immediately above the stops for the rear face of the stack are adjustable in several directions with the result that any size or shape of blank may be employed in this machine. This feature of adjustability of the stops also cooperates with the adjustability of the disks to the same end. I

Stops 49 which are similar to stops" are also disposed on the front face or faces ofthe stack. These are carried by slotted carriers 50 which are adjustably supportedon the angle brackets 30.

'One feature of the present invention resides in providing means for guarding the leading edge 5| of the horn 52 on the separator disk from coming into contact with the blanks during the early portion of its passage between a partly separated blank and the stack. While this feature may be employed in the feeding of-any type of blank, it has particular application in the feeding of window envelope blanks. With this type of feeding device known hitherto the leading edge of the separator disk frequently catches against the edge of the window in the blank and thereby damages the blank. The present feeding device is specifically designed to eliminate this difficulty. For this purpose the horn 52 of the disk is so designed that during the early portion of'its travel between a partly separated blank and with the window of the-blank is such as to minimize the possibility of the horn catching against the edge of the window. .In order to further reduce or eliminate such difficulties each disk is provided with an oscillating pair of shovel-like members which straddle the disk and are operated to be interposed between a partly separated blank and the stack in such timely relation to the operation of the disk that they guard the leading edge of the horn from contact with the blanks during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the stack and its lowermost blank.

The shovel-like members are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and are indicated by the reference characters 53 and 54, the -flrst of these being disposed to travel over the disk and the second being disposed to travel under the disk. Each pair of members 53 and 54 is carried by the arm 55 which is pivotally mounted on the bracket 30. These shovel-like members 53 and 54 are preferably spaced from the under side of the free end of the arm 55 by means of spacers 56 and 51. A pair of screws 58 and 59 serve to hold members 53 and 54 in position. The arm 55 is provided with curved slots 50 for each of the screws 55, whereby the members 53 and 54 may be adiusted with relation to each other and with relation to the arm 55. The operating link 5| serves to oscillate the shovel-like members 53 and 54 between the extreme positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The shovel-like members 53 and 54 are preferably made of sheet metal. The lower one 54 has a forwardly curved engaging end so that it engages the separated blank with the correspondingly curved face, and the upper member 53 has a round corner also to minimize any possible harm to the blank during its travel.

In order to relieve the separator disk of a part of the load of the stack of blanks during the separating operation a lifting device 52 is provided which operates to lift the rear of the stack during such operation as shown in Fig. 7. The structure and operation of the lifter 52 will be understood by referring to Fig. 1. The lifting device comprises a parallel motion device and includes a pair of parallel rock shafts 53 each having downwardly depending rocking arms 54 which are joined by pivot links 55 as shown. Each rock shaft 53 also has fixed thereon, and movable which is pivoted to the link 15a fixedly carried-by one of the rock shafts 53.

This lifter device is normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 and is not in contact with the stack. When the leading edge of the horn 52 of the disk enters the stack the lever Ill comes" 'ferent operating elements will be more clearly understood from the following description of the operation of the present feed mechanism: The feeding of the blank is initiated by the action oi a sucker II which has a compound motion to and fro, as well as up and down, the mechanism for accomplishing these movements being shown ment with the lower face of the lowermost blank in this. stack. The sucker then moves downwardly a short distance and. thereby separates the forward portion of the lowermost blank from the stack. The suction is then cut off and the upper face of the blank is engaged by a pair of daggers 13 which move the end of the blank against the conveyer 14. Simultaneous with the operation of the daggers 13 the shovel-like members 53 and 54 also start their forward movement and are preferably slightly in advance of the daggers. As soon as the daggers are down over the leading edge of the blank the rollers 15 start forward. At the same time the'lifter 62 comes into operation so that when the daggers have reached the lowermost position the lifter 62 has reached its uppermost position andslightly lifts the rear of the stack. At the same time the sucker H has been withdrawn to its rearmost position. It will be seen therefore that before the leading edges of the horns 52 enter the space between the stack and the partly separated blank, the cooperating parts are substantiallyv in the position shown in Fig. 5. These operations have all taken place and been completed immediately before the horn reaches the position B shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. As the separator disk continues to rotate the horn 52 soon passes between the shovels 53 and 54 and reaches the position C, having completed the separation of the blank from the stack. The lifter 62 will then have released the stack and is in its downward,movement. The blank has now become separated from the stack and is being carried off by the conveyer 14, the traction being supplied by the pressure of the rollers 115. When the horn 52 reaches the position indicated by the dotted line D in Fig. the daggers 13 start back to the inoperative position so as to permit the repeated operation of the sucker I I. When the horn reaches the position indicated by the dotted line E the shovels start back to their normal positions, and

approximately at the same time the sucker II also starts forward for the purpose of initiating the separation of the next succeeding blank. When the horn reaches the position F the rollers 15- start back so as to permit the lowering of the next succeeding blank and then the cycle of operations is repeated.

The blanks released from the stack'are carried away successively by the conveyor 1.4 which is so disposed that it receives the separated portion of the blank by the action of the daggers l3 and the rollers 15. The conveyor is carried around a large drum l8 and the idlerpulleys 11. Due to,

the action of the pair of roller members .15 coopere ating with the belt 14, the blank held between them is conveyed from the bottom ofthe stack, the arrangement being such that when this'action takes place the separator disks and] i will have completely severed the blank from the drum 80. blanks are gummed by means 01' the gum box 8|.

formed, a conveyor 18 is provided which extends around a portion of the periphery of the drum l8 and above the conveyor I4 and passes over idler pulleys 19. In this manner the band of blanks is conveyed between bands 14 and 18 to a large Upon traversing the drum 88, the

After passing the gumming apparatus and also guide rolls 82 the blanks pass to a mechanism by means of which the blanks are' individually gripped by means of grippers 83 carried by a chain 84. By means of this arrangement the grippedblanks are passed through a drying way and are delivered in timed relation to the operating cycle of the machine to mechanism which indivldualize, gum and fold the blanks into finished envelopes.

The chain 84 moves slightly'faster than the surface speed of the drum 88, consequently each a blank is moved slightly from the immediately succeeding blank before it is gripped by the clip or grippers 83. This is done for the purpose of preventing the blanks from sticking to each other during the drying operation. A sucker 85 is employed to assist in transferring the blanks to the chain and to prevent collision of one edge of the window aperture in the blank being transferred with the opposite edge of the window opening in the next succeeding blank. The suckeris adjustably mounted on the parallel motion device 86 and is designed to operate upon the leading edge of each blank and on the ungummed face thereof. The parallel motion device oscillates the sucker 85 between the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8 and during its motion fromthe position shown in Fig. l to that 'shown in Fig. 8, suction is applied and the blank with which it is in engagement is thereby moved slightly in advance of the next blank. At the point shown in Fig. 8 suction is cut off and the blank falls on top of the chains 84, there being a pair of such parallel chains. The chains travel in part each in a channel bar 81 which has mounted at its upper end a small spring 89a which coactswith the dagger 89 to hold the blank before it is gripped by the clip or gripper 83. Each link 88 of the chain carries a clip or gripper 83 at its forward end which'cooperates with the link next in advance to grip the blank. The daggers 89 are carried by the arms 90 of rock shaft 9| and are oscillated between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 8. In

the position shown in Fig. 1 the daggers 89 serve to hold up the blankwhich is being acted upon by the sucker 85. As soon as the sucker has moved to the position shown in Fig. 8 the dagger 89 is moved to the position shown therein, thus permitting the blank to drop on to the chains and so that the daggers may readily engage behind the, side flaps of the next succeeding blank to assist in transferring it to the drier chains 84'.

The horns of the separator diskshave been particularly designed for operation upon window envelope blanks. The apex of the horn first strikes the solid part of the stack and as it proceeds into the stack to complete the separation of the blank the outer receding edge of the horn has a shear,- ing action on the edge of the window and the possibility of damage to such edge is eliminated.

Another feature of the present feeding device is that the separated blank drops entirely free and clear of the stack due to thetimely lowering of the lifter 62. is not interferred with by the weight of the stack or any part of it. The free dropping of the sep- The forward travel of the blank arated blank also prevents hooking of the outgoing blank with the next blank in the pack.

No claim is made herein for the devices for transferring the blanks from the drum to the chain with the gumareas spaced from one another for the reason that such devices are disclosed and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 202,393 filed April 16, 1938, for Blank transferring device, which is a division of the present application.

I claim:

1. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support for holding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, each of said disks having aseri'es of circular grooves on its operative face to reduce frictional contact between the disk and the stack.

2. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support for holding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, and means for adjusting the distance between the axes of rotation of said disks.

3. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support forholding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, each of said disks having aserles of circular grooves on its operative face to reduce frictional contact between the disk and the stack, and vertically disposed rod like stops against the rear of the stack, the lower ends of said stops projecting into the grooves of the disks.

4. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support for holding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, each of said' disks having a series of circular grooves onits operative face to reduce frictional contact between the disk and the stack, vertically disposed stops against the rear of the stack, the lower ends of said stops projecting into the grooves of the disks, and means for adjusting the position of said stops.

5. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support for holding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, each of said disks having a series of circular grooves on its operative face to reduce frictional contact between the disk and the stack, and stops against the stack to hold the blanks in the stack, some of these stops having their lower ends extending into the grooves in the stack.

6. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support for holding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, each of said disks having a series of circular grooves on its. operative face to reduce frictional contact between the disk and the stack, and stops against the stack to hold the blanks in the stack, some of the stops being free of the disks and other stops extendinginto the grooves of the disks.

7. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a support for holding a stack of blanks comprising a pair of rotatable separator disks, each of said disks having a series of circular grooves on its operative face to reduce frictional contact between the disk and the stack, stops against the stack to hold the blanks in the stack, some of the stops being free of the disks, other stops extending into the grooves of the disks, and means for adjusting the position of said stops.

8. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for initiating the separation of the outside blank, and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks and apair of oscillating shovel-like elements cooperating with each disk to guard the same against contact with the blank and stack during the early portion of its passage therethrough.

disk to guard the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank and stack during the passage of the horn past the window.

10. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, and oscillating shovel-like elements cooperating with each disk .to guard the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack.

11. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the'forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably 'shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, and a pair of oscillating shovel-like elements straddling each disk and cooperating therewith to guard the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank during the'early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack.

12. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, and a pair of oscillating shovel-like elements straddling each disk and operable to enter the space between the separated forward portion of the blank and the stack in advance of; such entry by the horn of the disk,

and thereby guarding the leading edgeof the horn from engagement with the blank during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack.

13. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, and a pair of oscillating shovel-like elements straddling each disk and operable to enter the space between the separated forward portion of the blank and the stack in ad- Vance of such entry by the horn of the disk, and thereby guarding the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack, and lifting device normally free of engagement with the stack to lift the rear of the stack and reduce the load on the disks during the separating operation.

14. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, and a pair of oscillating shovel-like elements straddling each disk and operable to enter the space between the separated forward portion of the blank and the stack in ad- Vance of such entry by the horn of the disk, and thereby guarding the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack, and a lifting device normally free of engagement with the stack and operable by a parallel motion device to lift the rear of the stack and reduce the load on the disks during the separating operation.

15. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the ouside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, and a pair of oscillating shovel-like elements straddling each disk and operable to enter the space between the separated forward portion of the blank and the stack in advance of such entry by the horn of the disk, and thereby guarding the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack, and a lifting device normally free of engagement with the stack and operable by a parallel motion device to lift the rear of the stack and reduce the load on the disks during the separating operation, said device comprising a roller for engaging the stack and means for adjusting the position of the roller relative the stack.

16. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for initiating the separation of the outside blank and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks and means to increase the gap between the partly separated blank and the stack to guard the disks against contact with the blank during the early portion of its passage through the stack.

17. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for initiating the separation of the outside blank and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks and means cooperating with each disk to guard the disks against contact with the blank during the early portion ,of its passage through the stack.

18. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, and a lifting device normally free of engagement with the stack and operable to lift the rear of the stack and reduce the load on the disks during the separating operation.

19. In a device for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks, in combination, means for separating the forward portion of the outside blank from the stack and means for completing the separation of the blank from said stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, said last named means comprising a pair of rotating separator disks, said disks also serving as supports for the stack and each having a suitably shaped horn to enter between the outside blank and the stack after the separation was initiated by the first named means, means operable to enter the space between the separated forward portion of the blank and the stack in advance of such entry by the horn of the disk thereby guarding the leading edge of the horn from engagement with the blank during the early portion of the passage of the horn between the blank and the stack, and a lifting device normally free of engagement with the stack and operable to lift the rear of the stack during the separating operation, and to release the blank for unimpeded movement after completion of the separation.

20. In a devicefor feeding envelope blanks, a supporting element for holding a stack of blanks, comprising a rotatable separator disc having a substantial portion of its operative supporting face occupied by a series of circular ribs alternating with circular grooves and adapted to afford an extensively subdivided supporting structure having a relatively low frictional coemcient' 21. In a device for feeding envelope blanks, a supporting element for holding a stack of blanks at spaced apart regions thereof, comprising a pair of rotatable separator discs, each of said discs having a substantial area of its operative supporting face occupied by a series of circular ribs alternating with circular grooves and adapted to afford an extensively subdivided supporting structure having a relatively low frictional co-efilcient.

ABRAHAM NOVICK. 

